Digital-to-analog converter



DIG/ML l/VPU 7' 50mm TORAGE DEV/GE a. M. fiLOCGMB 2,963,893

DIGITAL TO-ANALOG CONVERTER Filed June 25, 19%

w ANALOG' 9a OUTPUT DIGITALTO-ANALOG CONVERTER George M. Slocornlr, Alludena, Cali? assignor, hy niesne assignments, to Consolidated Electrodynamics Corpo ration, Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of California Filed .llilne 25, 1956, S85. M senses 6 Claims. or. 340-347 potentials in response to received digital information.

The output voltage may be madedirectly proportional to the binary number input which sets up a particular pattern on the relays. However, this method depends upon the fact that the resistance, as seen from the output terminals through any one of the weighted resistors and the associated relay switch, be constant. This requires that the potential source have a zero impedance and have a voltage which is regulated within the limits oi accuracy of the system regardless of the current demand put on the potential source by Switching in and out of various combinations of the weighted resistors.

The present invention provides a converter utilizing general principal of operation of the above-described type of converter with improved speed, reliability, and accuracy. Yet, the converter of the present invention avoids the severe limitations placed on the power supply of the prior art converters.

In addition, the present invention provides a converter which is more compact and more efficient in operation.

These advantages of thepresent invention are achieved by a converter comprising a plurality of series circuits, each-series circuit including a resistor and a zener reference diode connected in series across a potential source. Weighted resistors connect each of the series junction points between the resistors and zerier reference diodes to a common output terminal. Switching is provided by a plurality of transistors having their, emitter electrodes connected to the respective series junction points of the series circuits, and their collector electrodes connected to a common return with the input and output to the converter circuit. "the base electrodes of each of the transistors comprising the switching circuits are coupled to input means, such as a flip-flop forming part of a counter circuit or a shifting or storage register for changing the base current abruptly to one of two alternative levels in response to binary digit information stored in the flip-hop. I

For a better understanding of the invention reference should he had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a schematic circuit diagram of the converter circuit; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a modification of the circuit of Fig. l.

in Fig. l, the numeral 10 indicates generally a binary storage device which, for example, may he a counter, a storage or shifting register, or other such device, inc uding a plurality of flip-Flop circuits or similarhistnhle means, on which a particular binary word pattern can be estabilsherl. Each'of the fiip-tlops is connected to the grid of a cathode follower tube, only two of which nited States Patent e a E @g masses are indicated at 12 and l4 for the sake of clarity. Each of the cathode followers includes a. cathode resistor 16 connected to a negative potential source {not shown), the plate of'esch of the cathode followers being con nected to a positive potential source.

The cathode of each of the cathode followers is connected to the base electrode of a transistor, such as indicated at lit and 2d. The transistors are preferably of a fused junction type and are shown as PNP transistors in the embodiment described. However, the circuit may he modified to use NPN type transistors. The collec tor electrode of each transistor is connected to ground through an associated compensating resistor 22, the function oi which will hereinafter he descrihed. The emitter electrode of each of the transistors'is connected to the series junction point 24 between a resistor 26 and a 'z'ener reference type diode 28, the series circuit formed by the resistor 26 and diode 28 being connected across a peter tial source (not shown). The respective series junction points 24 are connected through summing resistors, such as indicated at 3i and 32, to a common output terminal 34.

The function of each transistor is to act as a switch in shunt across the corresponding zener reference diode.

Operation of a transistor as a switch has been previously described in an article entitled Small Signal Analysis of Floating-inaction TransistorSwitch Circuits by N. W. Bell, LRE. Transaction of Group on Electronic Devices, Gctober 1955. By varying the base current, the effective. emitter to collector impedance can be varied consldern bly. In the closed condition, for example, the switch presents a low resistance of the order of 10 ohms in series with a small voltage of the order oi 2.5 inillivolts.

In the open condition, the switch presents a high resistance of the order of 50,000 ohms.

When the transistor switch is closed, current flows irons the source +5 through the emitter to the base of the transistor. As a result, a potential drop exists between the emitter and collector electrodes, with the emitter being positive. The purpose of the compensating resistor 22 in the collector circuit of each of the transistors is to compensate for this potential drop. The value of the resistor 2.2 can be selected to produce a compensating drop due to the flow of collector current which is equal to the voltage existing between the emitter and collector electrodes, so that the net voltage at the junction may be reduced substantially to zero with respect to ground.

it is a characteristic of a crystal diodet'nat when a certain voltage is exceeded in the inverse direction, the

diode breaks down and the current abruptly increas=*.

This break-down point is called the zener point. The

zener reference diode is a diode specifically designed for operation at the zener point. It is characterised by the sharpness and stability of the-zeuer point, so that it may be used to give voltage regulation. Since the impedance is quite small at the zener point, relatively large oha'uges in current do not materially affect the voltage drop across the diode.

it will be seen in operation, that when the transistor switch is in its open condition, providing a substantial ly high impedance in shunt with the zener diode, the potential at the series junction point 24 will he set by the aeuer break-down voltage oi the diode 28. The poten tial at the series junction point 24 will be unailected by small changes in the potential across the series circuit comprising the resistor 26 and diode 23 because of the voltage regulating properties of the diode 2h.

However, when the transistor switch is in its closed condition, the series junction point 24 will be substantially.

Patented Dec. 8, i966;

to the associated flip-flop in the binary storage device lid. By appropriately adjusting the summing resistors 3d, 3522, theoutput voltage s may be set to any predetermined level in steps from zero to a maximum according to the pattern of open and closed transistor switches as set by the binary storage device til.

it should be noted that the summing resistors 3t), 32- are made adjustable rather than fixed, because the zener point of each of the diodes 23 may vary slightly within design limits.

By way of example, a practical converter circuit of the present invention may have the following values:

General Electric 2N4? National Semi-Concluctor Transistor type Zener diode -c Resistor as do.. 10,000 'Voltage'E ..volts- 55 in the circuit of Fig. 1, the zener diode current changes zero to rated value as the switch changes from closed to open. in some applications this may cause undesirable transient drift of output voltage due to temperature changes resulting from variation in heating due to current flow. While zeuer diodes are available which are extremely stable with changes in temperature, their cost is quite high. The variable heating of the zener diode may be avoided, however, by providing a switching circuit in which a constant zener diode current is maintained. This circuit is shown in the modification 2. this circuit, a second resistor Elli in series with the in, diode 2% connects the -.zener diode to a negative yotentiai source, (not'shown). The series junction point, indicated at 3%, between the zener diode 28 and second series resistor '36, is connected to the emitter electi'de of a second transistor, indicated generally at ii e collector of the first transistor and the second nsistor are both connected directly to ground. "5

oi the transistor ill is connected through able cathode follower (not shown) to the opposite flip-flop in the binary storage device ill. is when the current level in the base electrode of the transistor 18 is raised to a high level, the current the electrode of the second transistor so is set low level. Accordingly, the switch circuit n ovided the transistor is closed when the switchin circuit by the transistor ill is open, and vice versa, cleuuon which of two stable states the associated Stop in the binary storage device is in.

With this circuit it will be seen that the zener diode T2 will always be operated at its zener voltage point and the current through the diode will remain essentially constant. Nevertheless the series junction point 2 4 will jump in potential by operation of the switching circuits formed by the transistors is and oil. This circuit has the additional advantage that smaller currents pass through transistor switches so that the switch driving currents can therefore be much smaller than for a single switch unit. The smaller currents also avoid the necessity for compensating resistors 22 provided in the circuit oi From the above description it will be seen that a convertex circuit is provided by the present invention which as a high degree of stability without the need for a closely regulated and highly stable power supply. The adiustable summing resistors can be adjusted to give any desired potential within the limits imposed by the circuitry for a given digital pattern in the storage device ill. By virtue of the zener reference diodes, the impedance at the output terminal remains constant regardless of the switching pattern on the transistor switching circuits. The transistors girovide extremely fast switching time, of

" one microsecond, and therefore are preferred order or over the usual relay switch.

pal

' What is claimed is: y

l. A digital-to-analogconverter oomnrisiag a plurality of series circuits, eacltcircuit including a resistor and a zener reference diode connected in series across 1 a voltage source, a plurality of resistors connecting the series junction between the diode and resistor oi. each of the series circuits to a common output terminal, and a. plurality of transistors, each including a base electrode, an emitter electrode, and a collector electrode, the emitter electrode of each transistor being connected to a respective one of said series iunctions oi the series circuits, a compensating resistor connected to the collector electrorle of each transistor, the compensating resistors being connected to a common return for the input and for the output, and means coupled to the base electrodes of the respective transistors for changing the base current abrupt- 1y to one of two flternative levels in response to received binary digit pulse information.

2. A digital-to-analog converter comprising a plurality of series circuits, each circuit including a resistor and zener reference diode connected in series across a voltage source, a plurality of resistors connecting the series iunction between the diode and resistor of each of series circuits to a common output terminal, and a pinrality of transistors, each including a base electrode, an emitter electrode, and a collector electrode, the emitter electrode of each transistor being connected to a rescuetive one of said series junctions of the series circuits, means for connecting the collector electrode to a common return with the input wd output oi the converter, means counled to the base electrodes of the respective transistors for changing the base current abruptly to of two alternative levels in response to received binary digit pulse information.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein or? said series circuits further includes a second resistor con nected to a-negative potential source, the zener diode being connected between the two resistors, a plurality of transistors having their respective emitter elecLo connected to the series iunctiou point between the see and resistor and the zener diodes, and means couple to the base electrodes of said last-named transistors changing the base current abruptly to one 0? two alterintive levels in response to received binary information, the base electrodes of last-named i383?"- sistors being changed to the opposite current level the base electrodes of first-named transistors.

A digitalicensing converter comprising'n of series circuits, each circuit including a resistor and a. zener reference diode connected in series across a voltage source, a clurality of resistors connecting the series junction between the resistor and diode of each of series circuits to a common output terminal, and a piurality of transistor switching circuits, each including a trunsistor having two of the electrodes thereof connected respectively to opposite ends of the zener diode, and input means responsive to received binary digit information for selectively setting the current level in the remaining electrode of each oi" the transistors to one of two tions clependingcn the binary digits received, whereby the respective transistors provide a high or low shunting i:n pendance across the respective zener diodes.

5. A digital-to-analog converter comprising plurality of series circuits, each circuit including a resistor and a zener reference diode connected in series, means applying a potential across the series circuits having; a polarity to induce current flow in the baclt direction the zener diode for producing reairdown oi diode at the zones point, whereby the zener diode grovldes asubstantially constant voltage droc thereacross, a plurality of resistors respectively connecting; the series junction between the resistor and diode of each or" the circuits to a common output terminal, and switching means for selectively connecting each or" the tion points between the resistor and zener diode series circuit through a low impedance current path to bypass current normally flowing in the back direction through the zener diode, whereby the potentials at the respective series junction points are selectively set at one of two levels by the switching means, and input means responsive to received binary digit information for selectively setting each of the switching means to one of two impedance conditions thereof, depending on the binary digits received.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including a 10 second resistor in each of the series circuits with the zener'diode connected in series between the two resistors, and the switching means further including means to connect the series junction point of the zoner diode and second resistor in each of the series circuits through 15 2,803,815

said low impedance path, the switching means being arranged to connect only one of the two series junction points in each series circuit through the low impedance current path at a time.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,505,029 Carbrey Apr. 25, 1950 2,538,615 Carbrey Jan. 16, 1951' 2,693,572 Chase NOV. 2, 1954 2,736,889 Kaiser -0 Feb. 28, 1956 ,751,549 Chase June 19, 956 2,775,727 Kernahan et al. Dec. 25, 1956 Wulfsberg Aug. 20, 1957 

